On February 12, 2026, a delegation from Madison’s sister city, Obihiro, Japan, visited with Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems’ staff and Director Erin Silva’s lab members to ask questions about organic agriculture systems in the United States.

Their team consisted of two agricultural economics researchers and two farmers from Hokkaido—one pig farmer and one beef farmer—along with a coordinator and an interpreter, for a total of six members.

Their university is in an agricultural region of Japan and has recently established an organic consortium to promote research and collaboration in organic farming. The purpose of this visit was to exchange knowledge with experts in the U.S., particularly in the areas of organic feed production, meat processing, certification systems, and market trends.

The participating farmers were especially interested in understanding how organic feed is produced using local resources in the U.S., as well as learning about organic slaughterhouse systems. They also sought to better understand the requirements and practical conditions of organic certification. From an academic perspective, they were interested in consumer preferences for organic meat and the structure of organic markets.

During the visit, they also observed the wide range of labeling claims on meat products in the U.S., such as “100% Natural,” “Grass-Fed,” and “Animal Welfare Approved,” which highlighted the complexity of product differentiation and consumer information in the American market.

This visit provided valuable insights into the organic agriculture sector in the Midwest and strengthened opportunities for international collaboration and knowledge exchange between Japan and the United States.